Should you put adjectives before or after the noun?

It seems like a simple question, but the answer is far from simple, and just when you think you've got things straight, you'll come across some poet who will break all the rules you've spent so much time learning.

The basic answer is:

                    - most adjectives usually come after the noun

                    - a handful of common adjectives come before the noun

                    - and a handful of adjectives do both, but their meaning changes accordingly.